FIX Windows Error Code c0000034 / Fatal Error c0000034

Recently there has been more and more people having the Windows Error Code c0000034 when Windows reboots and tries to apply the update. Most people get the following error: FATAL ERROR c0000034.

This guide is intented for Windows 8.1 or Windows 8. This guide was not designed for Windows 7.

To fix this issue we need to get into the Windows Recovery Environment, for this you might need an Bootable Windows 8 disc. If you do not have one, you can download the Windows 8 Enterprise ISO from Technet and use that one, the disc version does not really matter.

Step 1: Opening the Windows Recovery Environment

1. We begin by booting into the Windows Recovery Environment, if you do not know how to do that, then read this guide

2. After you successfully booted into the Windows Recovery Environment you can begin with step 2.

Step 2: Using System Restore to solve this problem

Before we take any drastic steps it’s perhaps a good idea to try an System Restore first to troubleshoot Fatal Error c0000034 . You can do that following these steps:

1. In Windows RE, click on Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting

2. Then choose Advanced Options

c0000034

3. Then choose System Restore

Advanced Options

4. Choose any restore point from before the problems started and start the restore.

If you have no restore points or if you get any error after or before applying the System Restore Point then continue with Step 3.

Step 3: Using DISM to Revertpendingactions

1. In Windows RE, click on Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting

2. Then choose Advanced Options

c0000034

3. Then choose Command Prompt

Advanced Options

4. Choose an Administrator account of the computer from the list and sign-in using that account’s password.

Please be aware that C: is the default drive, however in many cases this can be another drive letter. Use the command DIR X: (Replace X) to find the Windows installation disk, that one should contain: Users, Windows, Program Files and so on. Replace the C: where needed.

6. Hit enter, and wait for the command to complete

7. After the command had completed type “exit” and hit enter, reboot the device

The device should now successfully start, if it does not, then continue with the next step.

Step 4: System Refresh or More Help?

You now have two options, to refresh your system or to ask for more help. If you have important files and don’t want to loose them we suggest you visit our forums and ask for personal help, otherwise you can Refresh your system. However we hope you where able to fix the Fatal Error c0000034problem on your device.

2014, 2015 & 2016 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Windows
Yuri specializes in troubleshooting (crash analysis and devices), system resource utilisation and system performance. He is also very interested in Customer Security. Yuri can be found as Windows Community Moderator and Wiki Author on Microsoft Answers and is active on different communities all across the web.

WindowsInstructed has been founded as a Windows solutions website for the most common Windows issues that users are experiencing while using their system. We index many online communities and look for a pattern of problems. When we find a pattern we will ask one of our experts in that expertise to write a Troubleshooting guide for the problem.